Getting people involved in the concert is always fun! I like to ask members of the congregation to participate in the service by reading scripture passages and by providing music. And the best thing is we don't have to rehearse together to make it work!

The idea is to have people from the church read the scripture passages and then have the church present the vocal version of the Christmas carol. It would be up to each church how they would present the traditional carols. Churches have used soloists, praise teams, choirs and congregational singing to present the vocal versions of the carols.

It is best to sing only one verse of each carol to keep the concert within one hour. However, at the end of the concert I'll lead the singing of four verses of Silent Night.

III THE SYNOPSIS

ACT 1: Introduction. Keith will recite the scripture from Isaiah 9:6 and will Keith play Joy To the World instrumentally, will sing Joyous Christmas Songs and then the congregation would present the vocal version of Joy To The World.

ACTS 2 - 8: The congregation provides the reader of the Bible verse, Keith plays the instrumental carol, sings the original song for each Act and then the congregation would present the vocal version for each carol.

ACT 9 - Keith sings And I Wonder.

ACT 10 Keith plays O Holy Night instrumentally, followed by the congregation presenting the vocal version of O Holy Night.

ACT 11 Keith leads the singing for 3 verses of Silent Night via unplugged guitar and vocals and then the congregation would sing the first verse A Cappella as Keith walks off the stage to end the concert.

IV THE CONCERT OUTLINE (All scripture passages are quoted from the King James Bible)

ACT 1:

Isaiah 9:6 King James Version (KJV)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Joy To the World - (Traditional, vocal musical arrangement provided by the congregation)

ACT 2:

John 1:1-2 King James Version (KJV)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” (reader provided by the congregation)

What Child Is This (Instrumental by Keith)

The Word Became Flesh (Vocal by Keith) - Composer Keith Andrew Grim

What Child Is This - (Traditional, vocal musical arrangement provided by the congregation)

ACT 3:

Luke 1:26-27 King James Version (KJV)

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.” (Reader provided by the congregation)

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” (Reader provided by the congregation)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) (Reader provided by the congregation)

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Reader provided by the congregation)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard On High (Instrumentals by Keith)

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. (Reader provided by the congregation)

The First Noel (Instrumental by Keith)

The Shepherd Song (Vocal by Keith) - composer Keith Andrew Grim

The First Noel (Traditional, vocal musical arrangement provided by the congregation)

ACT 8:

Matthew 2:1-2 King James Version (KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship him.

(Reader provided by the congregation)

We Three Kings! (Instrumental by Keith)

The Ballad Of The Wise Men (Vocal by Keith)- - composer Keith Andrew Grim

We Three Kings (Traditional, vocal musical arrangement provided by the congregation)

ACT 9

Keith sings And I Wonder. (Composer Keith Andrew Grim)

ACT 10:

Keith plays an instrumental version of O Holy Night followed by a soloist, choir, or praise team from the church singing O Holy Night.

ACT 11:

Silent Night - Vocal Traditional -

Keith leads the congregation in singing Silent Night via unplugged vocal and guitar, singing 3 verses followed by repeating the first verse a cappella as Keith walks off the stage.

V The Lyric Outline

ACT 1: JOYOUS CHRISTMAS SONGS

Isaiah 9:6 King James Version (KJV)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The Word was with God and became flesh, the time of salvation has now begun!

You are the Light that shines in the darkness,

The Light that gives life came to the world!

Those who choose to follow Your glory, are born of God and now we are free!

CHORUS:

We are not born naturally, but sown as a righteous seed!

Jesus came to live with us, perfect in power and deed,

If we believe, we will receive, His mercy!

2. You have come made the Father known,

Through Your love the truth has now been shown.

Lift our voice with the angels sing, Alleluia to the new born King!

Alleluia, Alleluia! Glory to God in the highest!

Born that we may eternally live, in the fullness of grace new life You give!

CHORUS:

We are not born naturally, but sown as a righteous seed!

Jesus came to live with us, perfect in power and deed,

If we believe, we will receive, His mercy!

ACT 3: REJOICE! HIGHLY FAVORED ONE!

Luke 1:26-27King James Version (KJV)

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.”

1. Joseph journeyed with his wife Mary, from Nazareth down to Bethlehem.

Caesar Augustus declared a census, everyone returned to their own land.

2. Mary delivered her first born Son, while in the little town of Bethlehem.

And then she laid Him in a manger, there was no room for them in the inn.

CHORUS:

Child of Bethlehem, Savior of the world, laid in a manger on this holy night.

Child of Bethlehem, Savior of the world, bring us goodness and light!

ACT 6: TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY

Luke 2:7-8 King James Version (KJV)

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

Instrumental: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard on High

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

After they saw the little Baby Boy, they told everyone, they were filled with joy!

2. The people! Marveled! At the words they said,

About the Savior in the manger bed.

Mary! Pondered! These things in her heart,

And the shepherds were the first to start,

To sing praises to the new born King!

ACT 8: THE BALLAD OF THE WISE MEN

Matthew 2:1-2 King James Version (KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship him.

Instrumental: We Three Kings

Vocal: The Ballad of the Wise Men

Vocal: We Three Kings

The Ballad of the Wise Men – Composer – Keith Andrew Grim – September 6, 2011

1. Traveling from the East in their caravan, the wise men came to Jerusalem,

Where is He who is born the King of the Jews,

We have seen His star, now we spread the news,

We have come to worship Him!

2. King Herod was troubled by the words they said, and so was everyone in Jerusalem.

He called the scribes and priests and he asked of them

Where the Christ is born, they said Bethlehem.

CHORUS:

Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, is the town the prophets said, where the Christ will be born!

Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, A Shepherd will arise, He will be Christ the Lord.

3. Herod met the wise men very secretly, to determine when they first did see

The star shining in their own homeland, and then he sent them to Bethlehem.

Search carefully for the Child.

4. When you find the Child bring back word to me, that I may worship Him in His majesty,

The wise men left the king and they followed the star,

They saw in the East, they traveled so far.

CHORUS:

Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, is the town the prophets said, where the Christ will be born!

Bethlehem, O Bethlehem, A Shepherd will arise, He will be Christ the Lord.

5. The star led the wise men ‘til it came and stood, where the young Child lived,

They knew this was good.

When they saw the Child their hearts were stirred,

They gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh

CHORUS 2:

Rejoice, O Rejoice, we worship the King of kings

O Rejoice, Rejoice, a brand new song we sing, O Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!

6. The wise men were warned in a divine dream,

Don’t return to Herod, so they left for their country, by another way.